Aug. 15, 2017 | July 27, 2017 | Together, the husband-and-wife physician team of Jawahar L. “Jay” Mehta, M.D., Ph.D., and Paulette Mehta, M.D., have done much to drive the mission of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) through cutting-edge research and outstanding patient care.

Now, they’re looking even farther ahead: the Mehtas have given $50,000, matched by UAMS for a total of $100,000, to establish an endowed lectureship to bring in top physicians in internal medicine to share their scientific knowledge with medical students and residents.

Jay Mehta, professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics, holds the Stebbins Chair in Cardiology and is the former director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Paulette is a professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. The Mehtas have bridged their respective fields through research on platelets and other blood cells in cardiovascular disease. They’ve developed lasting relationships with their patients, treating them like family. With this new lectureship, the Mehtas plan to invite notable physician educators and scientists to visit UAMS.

“This lectureship will help train and educate the future physicians of Arkansas by providing invaluable interactions with prominent physicians at the top of their fields,” said Jay Mehta. “In this way, we can continue to provide the best possible care to the people of this state.”

“This is our chance to pay back for all that we have been given, and to pass philanthropy on to future generations,” he said.

“Jay and I share the same vision,” said Paulette Mehta. “Our hope is that this contribution will help push the path forward to reduce the burden of those living with blood and heart diseases, and to eradicate these diseases in our lifetimes.”

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; northwest Arkansas regional campus; statewide network of regional centers; and six institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and Translational Research Institute. It is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 2,727 students, 822 medical residents and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses throughout the state, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.